Walk through autumn in the old castle town and see the dashi adorned with decorative hangings at Kameoka Festival
Kameoka Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 御斎榊立て：2026/10/01Endedくじ取り式：2026/10/03Ended御神輿飾り：2026/10/18Ended神幸祭：2026/10/20Ended宵宮：2026/10/24Scheduled本祭：2026/10/25Scheduled御神輿仕舞い：2026/10/26Scheduled
- Season / frequency
- Every year in October / Held annually
- Location
- Throughout the former castle town of Kameoka City and in the hoko districts
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Kameoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Kameoka Festival is an autumn festival passed down in the former castle town of Kameoka City. The lights of the evening festival and the procession during the main festival bring traditional color to the old castle town.
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Yanajin33 File:Galleria Kameoka - Model of Yamaboko floats.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.About Kameoka Festival
Kameoka Festival is a traditional autumn event held in conjunction with the annual festival of Kuwayama Shrine in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture.
The evening and main festivals and dashi procession take place in the former castle town of Tamba Kameyama.
The 11 dashi are preserved and passed down by their respective districts, keeping Kameoka’s townspeople’s culture alive today.
The festival is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kyoto Prefecture and an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kameoka City.
Source: 亀岡祭山鉾行事 - 亀岡市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
Highlights include dashi decorated with imported textiles and large Nishijin woven tapestries from Kyoto.
The 11 dashi, adorned with lavish decorative hangings, are also known as “moving art museums.”
During the evening festival, lanterns and from each hoko district light up the old castle town. Flower exhibitions are also held, and sacred sake is served.
During the main festival, the dashi process through the former castle town, gathering in Hatago-machi for the ritual to confirm the procession order.
Walk through autumn in the old castle town and see the dashi adorned with decorative hangings at Kameoka Festival
What to expect
The festival begins with religious rites, including the announcement of the festival on October 1, and continues with the evening festival, main festival, return procession, closing ceremony, and report ceremony.
Dashi are decorated for the evening festival, and performances of festival music and events in each district take place from the evening onward.
The main festival features a mikoshi procession and a dashi procession. The dashi tour the former castle town, while the mikoshi travel over a wider area, including the area around Kameoka Station.
Information is also available about joining the procession as a dashi puller.
Source: 亀岡祭 - Wikipedia / 亀岡祭 鉾の曳き手（ひきて）ボランティア - 亀岡市公式ホームページ
Location and access
- Venue and address
The dashi procession takes place throughout the former castle town of Kameoka City.
Evening festival events are held mainly in the districts responsible for each hoko.
- Train and bus
It takes about 20 minutes from JR Kyoto Station to Kameoka Station on the JR Sagano Line.
From Hankyu Katsura Station, it takes about 40 minutes by Keihan Kyoto Kotsu bus to the south exit of JR Kameoka Station; from JR Kyoto Station, the same bus takes about 60 minutes.
- By car
About 50 minutes from Horikawa Gojo in Kyoto City and about 90 minutes from central Osaka.
Source: 「亀岡祭」鍬山神社（京都府亀岡市）｜イベント｜京都新聞デジタル 京都・滋賀のニュースサイト / 城下町へのアクセス｜亀岡祭山鉾行事｜京都府亀岡市鍬山神社秋季大祭｜亀岡祭山鉾連合会
Event venue 京都府亀岡市 亀岡市内の旧城下町
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Setting up the sacred tree
2026/10/01
- Lottery to determine the procession order
2026/10/03
- Mikoshi decoration
2026/10/18
- Shinko Festival
2026/10/20
- Evening festival
2026/10/24
- Main festival
2026/10/25
- Mikoshi closing ceremony
2026/10/26
In 2026, related religious rites and events will be held from October 1 through the 26th. October 24 is the evening festival, and October 25 is the main festival.
On the 24th, lanterns and paper lanterns adorn the old castle town, and on the 25th, the dashi procession and mikoshi procession take place.
Yoiyama on October 23 has not been held since 2024.
Source: 亀岡祭｜イベント情報｜ぶらり亀岡 亀岡市観光協会
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kyoto Prefecture / Kameoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Kameyama Castle Ruins lie in the former castle town where the festival takes place.
During the main festival, refreshments are served at the Omoto Kameoka Mission Center, located at Kameyama Castle Ruins, which serves as a major rest stop.
Along with watching the dashi procession, you can enjoy walking through the old castle-town streets and the districts involved in the festival.
亀岡市文化資料館
京都府亀岡市の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
出雲大神宮
京都府亀岡市にある神社
Origins and History of Kameoka Festival
Kameoka Festival has been passed down as an event rooted in the festival of Kuwayama Shrine.
In addition to the deities worshipped in the area since ancient times, deities associated with the ruling class, including the lords of the Tamba Kameyama domain, were also enshrined together. With the domain’s protection, the festival was held as an event organized by the townspeople.
The dashi tradition has also been passed down in each district, and 11 dashi currently take part in the procession.
In 2010, the lottery to determine the procession order was revived for the first time in about 140 years.
Official information
The official Kameoka Festival Dashi Events website provides the latest event updates and traffic restrictions.
The Kameoka City official website has information about the dashi events, their cultural property designations, and the evening and main festivals.
Details about dashi-puller volunteers are posted in the recruitment notice on the Kameoka City official website.
Kameoka Festival at a Glance
Kameoka Festival is a traditional autumn event held in the former castle town of Kameoka City, where 11 dashi and mikoshi bring the streets to life.
In 2026, the main events will take place around the evening festival on October 24 and the main festival on the 25th.
The main highlights are the dashi procession, where you can view the decorative hangings up close; the evening festival, when lanterns and paper lanterns are lit; and the mikoshi procession.
If you wish to participate as a dashi puller, check the eligibility requirements and insurance conditions.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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